The #BringBackOurGirls (BBOG) group has said that corruption is the root of all the problems in the country and if not rooted out, the nation will continue to wallow in backwardness.
In a statement to commemorate the International Anti-corruption Day by leaders of the group, Aisha Yesufu, Oby Ezekwesili and Hadiza Usman, BBOG said that corruption has not only eroded the quality of life of the nation’s citizens, but has aided terrorism to flourish.
“Corruption is killing us. Corruption is at the root of every problem we have in this country. It has eroded the quality of life of our citizens, it is perverting the rule of law, it has caused for terrorism and its attendant consequences to flourish, and so on. In fact, corruption is undermining the sovereignty of our nation Nigeria,” it said.
BBOG said that the judiciary is perceived as the weakest link in the war to break the chain of corruption as some people who were found guilty of various crimes in Nigeria are walking freely without consequences.
“Others whom Nigerian courts had declared innocent admitted guilt of the same charges in foreign courts. This corruption chain can only be broken when there are consequences for actions, and this is only possible with a reformed and refocused judiciary. This will in no small measure boost the citizens’ confidence in justice delivery.
“Nigerian courts seem quick to grant bail to people standing trial on medical grounds, whereas we all saw that Hosni Mubarak, the former Egyptian president stood trial on a stretcher. Nigeria seems to be the only country in the world where interlocutory appeals are allowed in criminal trials, thereby slowing the wheels of justice, and complicating otherwise straightforward matters. These are some issues that affect society’s perception of justice,” it said.
The group added that while it has consistently demanded for accountability in Nigeria’s defence spending, emerging revelations showed that trillions of naira meant to equip the military to end terrorism have been shared with impunity.
“Presently, emerging revelations we are all getting in the media as to what may have happened to the trillions of naira meant to equip our military to end terrorism, bring back our girls, and so on, may have simply been shared among friends with impunity.
“This, at the same time our patriotic, gallant troops were dying needlessly, mocked, and called ‘cowards’, court-martialled and sentenced to death for refusing to commit suicide by fighting terrorists with their bare hands and on empty stomachs.
“In the process, 20,000 lives have been lost, with an official count of 2.1 million displaced persons and living in sub-human conditions. Sir, would the offenders in this matter for instance be allowed to be acquitted based on legal technicalities, and other such excuses?” it said.
-Leadership
